Back-frame for loose-leaf books.



R G. WHITLOCK.

BACK FRAME FOR LOOSE LEAF BOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED 0cT.16. I9l6.

1,241,692; Patented Oct. 2,1917.

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/71T0RN X RALPH G. WHITLOCK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BACK-FRAME FOR LOOSE-LEAF BOOKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Application filed October 16, 1916. Serial No. 126,045.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH G. WnrrLooK, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at the city of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Back-Frames for Loose-Leaf Books, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of the back frame for loose leaf books out of sheet metal and the object thereof is to simplify and cheapen the construction of said back frames and at the same time to provide a simpler and more efficient frame than is now 1n common use. In the drawings'forming a part of this application: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a completed back frame. FFig. 2 is a top plan ofthe frame shown in 1g. i Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the control end of the frame with the leaf holding rings closed.

Fig. 4: is an enlarged section on the line '4.-4E Fig. 2, with the rings in open position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, of so. much of the frame as shows the connection between the body members.

Fig. 6 is a plan of a sheet metal blank partly broken from which thebody members, ring members and connecting members "are formed.

Referring to the drawings the body members 10 are formed of that portion of the blank between the dotted lines 1111 of Fig. 6, which is pressed or formed into round rods.

The ring members 12 are formed of those portions of the blank extending above the dotted lines 13. i

The hinge members 14 at the ends are formed of those portions outside the dotted lines 11, and the intermediate hinge mem' bers 15 are formed of those portions below the dotted lines 16. Those portions below dotted lines 17 form what is termed brace members 18. By subjecting the blank shown in Fig. 6 to successive bending operations 7 the hinge members and ring members and side members and brace members for one half of the back frame are produced. The

other half is a duplicate of the one described. Those portions intended for hinge members are perforated by perforations marked 19 to receive the pintle rod 20, which is passed through them when the parts are assembled. over and pressed into the grooves in the back of the ring members, thereby stiffening and bracing the ring members.

A coil spring 21 is'wound around rod 20 near hinge members 15 and has its free ends bearing against the side members to close the ring members after they are opened and released as hereafter explained. Secured upon rod 20 near one of the ends thereof is a fulcrum bar 22 on which bar is pivotally mounted an L-shaped lever by means of which the body members of the back frame are caused to approach each other, thereby opening the ring members. This lever may be termed an opening lever and is composed of the shanks 23 which are pivotally mounted on the ends of the fulcrum bar, and the body members 24 which lie at. right angles to the shanks. The shanks are separated and a portion of the body member is cut away to permit it to pass over the end of rod 20 when the ring members are being opened. Secured to shanks 23 is a locking lug 25 which passes between the hinge members 14 at that end of the frame and is received in notches 26 when the ring members are in their closed position. This locking lug could be formed integral with the lever.

lVhen the ring members are in their closed position shanks 23 lie in a plane parallel with the plane of the body members of the back frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By pressing on the top of the opening lever its shanks press against the body members of the back frame and force them toward each other, thereby opening the ring members and locking them open. When the opening lever is returned to its normal position which is the position shown in Fig. 1, spring 21 returns the other parts of the frame to their normal positions. The back frame is suitably attached to the cover not shown in the well known manner. By this construe tion it will be seen that I have provided a back frame for loose leaf books which is The brace members are bent A and body members, and ibrace members: are

simple in operation and economical to manufacture.

Having described my invention what I claim is: j

l. A back' frame for loose leaf books in Which the ring members, the hinge members formed from blanks stamped from sheet opposite edges of the, body members when fi'rst-* stamped; said- I brace membersbeing adapted to be bent and pressed into the grooves in the backs of'the ring members, the different parts of the. blank being pressed into appropriate shape, the same shaped blank beinguse'd forieithe-r side.

2'. A back frame for loose leaf books in which the ringmembers, the hinge members and body members, andbrace members are formed from blanks stamped from sheet metal; said ring and braee members. being on opposite edges ofthe body :members when first stamped, said" brace members being adapted to bebent andrpressed into the groovesin the backs-of the'ring-members, the different parts ofv the blank being pressed into appropriate shape, the same shaped blank beingiusedxfor either side; and a pintle rod connecting theparts of one. side of the back frame: with those-0f the other side.v

3. A back frame-for looseleaf books. in

j which. the ring members, the hinge members and body members, and brace members are formed from blanks stamped from sheet metal; said ring and brace members-being on opposite edges of the body members when first stamped, said brace members being adapted to be bent and pressed intothe grooves in the backs of the ring members, the different parts of the blank being pressed into appropriate shape,- the, same shaped blank being. used for either side; and-a pintle rod connecting the parts of one side of the back frame with those of the other side; and a spring coiled on said pintle rod and having its free ends bearing against the body members to close and hold the ring members closed.

l, back frame for loose leaf books in which the ring members, the hinge members and body members, and brace members are formed from blanks stamped from sheet metal, said ring and brace members being on opposite I edges of the body members when'first stamped, said brace members bemg adapted to -be bent and pressed into the grooves in the backs of the ring members, the different parts. of the blank: being pressed into appropriate shape, the same shaped blank being used for either side; and a pintle rod connecting the parts. of one side of the back-frame with those of the other side; and a spring coiled on saidpintlerod andhaving its free ends bearing against the body members to close and hold the ring SLAr-blankfOrJback frames for loose leaf I books comprising a longitudinal body member; hinge members projecting from the body member at the ends and from one side thereof; ring members projecting from the side of the body member, all of said members stampedfrom sheet metal and adapted to be bent into suitable shape and beingintegral.

6. In a back frame for loose leaf. books longitudinal body members, ring members secured to said body members and adapted to be bent into shape, brace members secured to said body members adapted to be pressed to form supports for. the ring members,

hinge members secured to thebody members adapted to be bent into shape,v all ofsaid members being stamped from sheet. metal and being integral and a pintlebolt uniting said hlnge members Ina skeleton back frame forloose books blanked from sheet metal, side menibers formed into circular tubes; and ring members, each formed; with atrough its outer surface, said members being integral,

8 In a skeleton back, frame forloose leaf books blanked from sheet metal, side mem bers formed into circular tubes; ringmem- 1 bers projecting from the inner edges ofthe side members and formed with troughs in their outer surfaces; brace members projecting from the edges of'the side members op;-

posite the ring members and adapted to be I wedged in the troughs of the ring'members; hinge members connected-to the side members intermediate their ends; and a pintle rod connecting said hinge members.

9, A skeleton back frame for loose ileaf I books comprising side members havinggends bent for hinged connection; ring and brace members projecting from opposite edges of the side members; hinge members-projecting from the side members intermediate their ends, all of said members being integral; and

a pintlebolt connecting said hinge members. 10. In a skeleton back frame for loose leaf books of the character described, an L.-

shaped opening leverhaving shanks adapt- I ed to be hingedly connected to the. pintle rod and a cut-out body at right angles to the shanks, said shanks being adaptedto lie on and parallel with the side members when in their inoperative position, and to depress nation of side members hingedly connected when the parts are in their closed position by a pintle rod; With an L-shapcd operating and lock them from opening accidentally.

lever consisting of shanks and it cutout body In witness that I claim the foregoing I 10 at right angles to the shanks, said shanks behave hereunto subscribed my name this 9th 5 ing hingedly connected to the pintle rod; duty of October, 1916.

and a lug secured to said shanks adapted to lie between the ends of the side members RALPH G. WI-IITLOCK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatenta, Washington, I). 0." 

